Walker Kessler, Jazz Reportedly Not Expected to Agree to Contract, Will Be RFA in 2026

The Utah Jazz and center Walker Kessler aren't expected to reach an agreement on a rookie-scale contract extension, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.

The Jazz still "highly value Kessler and see him as a cornerstone to the future" despite the lack of an extension, per Jones.

Now, the 24-year-old will earn $4.9 million on the final year of his rookie contract before hitting restricted free agency in 2026.

Jones reported Wednesday that Kessler and the Jazz held "multiple meetings" during the offseason and Utah made a formal offer to the center, but both sides haven't come close to finalizing an agreement.

Kessler has spent the first three years of his NBA career with the Jazz, quickly growing into one of the league's top rim protectors.

He owns a career average of 2.4 blocks per game, recording at least 2.3 rejections on a nightly basis during each season he's spent in Utah.

Kessler's continued development has also been a promising sign for the Jazz, as he's coming off a 2024-25 campaign in which he averaged a career-high 11.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.

He shot 66.3 percent from the field and pulled down a league-leading 4.6 offensive rebounds per game.

While the Jazz may want to hold off on an extension in order to prioritize cap flexibility heading into the 2025-26 season, they're also risking a potential larger financial commitment if Kessler takes another step forward.

The deadline for the two sides to reach a rookie-scale extension agreement is on Oct. 20, but it doesn't seem as though a long-term deal for Kessler is on the horizon.